Monthly Archives: September 2014

When you travel to Hanoi with a tour of Saigon on the itinerary, you can bank on having an experience of a lifetime. Plus, now thanks to a Groupon via Pacific Holidays, you can get to Vietnam for 8 days at a cut rate cost of only $1,799 per person.

Tours to Saigon

Located in Vietnam, Saigon is a city with a history. Also known as Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon is a major metropolitan area with more than 9 million residents. Equally popular among tourists, Saigon is characterized by its early occupation with historic French buildings lining expansive boulevards. Enjoy the eclectic mix of past and present culture in Saigon with a visit to:

The Opera House aka Municipal Theatre

City Hall

The Reunification Palace

Notre-Dame Cathedral

The City People’s Court

The State Bank Office

Sights date back to the French colonization, which you’ll easily detect as you explore the many palaces, park gardens and shopping districts. For instance, you can explore the Museum of Vietnamese History or the Museum of Southeastern Armed Forces to learn more about the occupation of Ho Chi Minh City. The Museum of Southern Women and the Ho Chi Minh City Museum offer a more localized look at the past experiences of Saigon’s residents. If you are interested in art, check out the Museum of Fine Art. Additionally, the Dam Sen Tourist and Cultural Park are highlights for tourists who are in Saigon for a short stay. Other historical locales to hit up when you travel to Saigon include:

The Cu Chi tunnels

The Nha Rong Memorial House

The War Remnants Museum

The Revolutionary Museum

Ben Duoc Relic of Underground Tunnels

Suoi Tien Amusement and Culture Park

Hanoi Experience

In the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is the country’s second most populated city. Tourists appreciate the urban conveniences of Hanoi, while being immersed in the rich history of this place. Given the city of Hanoi is more than 1,000 years old, one can only imagine the diversity of culture and history here. For example, did you know that Hanoi has had many different names throughout the years including Dragonbelly and Big Net? Located along the Red River delta, Hanoi continues to thrive as a major port city. Additionally the mountain zone of Hanoi provides a lush backdrop of jungle terrain adding to the mystique. During a tour of Hanoi, make sure to check out the following locations:

Flag Tower of Hanoi

The Temple of Literature

Ba Dinh Square

One Pillar Pagoda

Hanoi Citadel

As the City of Lakes, prepare for an adventure of fishing and boating that takes you along Bay Mau Lake, Halais Lake, and West Lake. Make sure to visit Hoan Kiem Lake, an important cultural destination for Hanoi residents, as well as the mythical location of a magic sword. You can even hire swan boats to take you along the routes of the lakes of Hanoi.

Are you dreaming of travel to Nepal? Envision yourself on a spectacular retreat with tours to Nepal via Pacific Holidays. Thanks to the latest Groupon, you can score a vacation tour to Nepal for only $899 per person via land only for an amazing 12 days and 11 nights. Originally offered for $1,899, you can check out some of the most popular cultural hotspots and nature scenes that Nepal has to offer. Consider these top attractions for your Nepal bucket list.

Kathmandu

Easily one of the most famous stops in Nepal is the legendary Kathmandu. Discover the capital city of Nepal where for more than 2,000 years inhabitants have met for markets, tourism and cultural festivities. During your two-night stay in Kathmandu via tours in Nepal by Pacific Holidays, make sure to visit the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site. Here you’ll find ancient pagodas, as well as:

Changunarayan

Boudhanath

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Pashupatinath

Bhaktapur Durbar

Part of the thrill of traveling to Nepal is the culture, which is abundant in Kathmandu. Enjoy the exploration of religious roots of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Pokhara

As Nepal’s second largest city, Pokhara is less famous for its urban aspect as it is for its natural beauty. Here, as the backyard of the Himalayas, you will see three of the tallest mountains in the world:

Manaslu

Annapurna I

Dhaulagiri

As the nearest location for base camps of the Himalayas, many hikers of these world renowned mountain peaks will congregate in Pokhara. While on your tour with Pacific Holidays, you will have a five-day excursion that takes you deep into the woods of the Himalayas. See, smell and hear the local flora and fauna of Nepal in this magical city. Other tourist friendly places to visit in Pokhara include the World Peace Pagoda, the International Mountain Museum, and the Annapurna National History Museum.

Chitwan National Park

As a World Heritage Site, the Chitwan National Park aka the Heart of the Jungle is rich in history for Nepalese. Once home to sloth bears, rhinos, tigers and leopards, today this animal conservation is home to rare species of vultures. Considering the government of Nepal is planning to build a railway and highway through the park, your three-night stay here may be one of the last among tourists. Keep this in mind as you take an elephant ride through one of the oldest and most exotic national parks in Nepal, as well as Asia.

A trip to Nepal is a once in a lifetime experience. When you are traveling to this country with the guidance of the professional tour company, Pacific Holidays, you can be confident that your travel guide will handle every single detail. Let Pacific Holidays take you on your next adventure…all of the way to Nepal.

As the largest urban area of New Zealand, Auckland is famous for its fabulous night life and cultural attractions. Here you will spend time exploring the capital city before heading out to see the natural highlights of this southern hemisphere island. A cultural melting pot, many different ethnic groups reside in Auckland including Pacific Islanders and the Maori. Come into contact with the world’s largest population of Polynesians as you explore the City of Sails. The boating opportunities and swimming beaches scattered throughout Auckland make for excellent recreation in this tropical city. Specific places to check out while touring Auckland include:

Volcanic fields

Auckland Domain

The Auckland Botanical Gardens

The Auckland Art Gallery

Bay of Islands

Featuring big-game fishing made famous by Western writer Zane Grey, the Bay of Islands offers dolphin watching, sailing and fishing. See the sights where Maori once dominated before European settlers arrived under the guise of Captain Cook. Learn about the history of this magnificent isle with a tour of some of the historical locales including Kerikeri, Russell, Paihia and Waitangi. While on your travels, make sure to pay attention to the blue skies above, which are scientifically proven to be the second bluest in the world.

Rotorua

Best known for being the backdrop of Middle-Earth in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Rotorua is a “Hobbit” fan’s dream come true. While Rotorua is actually a major city featuring a steady economy and tourist industry, it is also a haven for natural occurrences. Experience geysers including the Pohutu Geyer, as well as pools of hot mud, both a result of geothermal activity beneath the city of Rotorua. Take a tour of the “Hobbit” movie set complete with the actual hobbit hole in Hobbiton sitting in view of the Kaimai mountain range. Mountain biking is an uber popular activity here in Rotorua, thanks to the hilly landscape and green setting. Other must-see sights in Rotorua include:

Whakarewarewa Forest aka the Disneyland of Mountain Biking

The Lakes of Rotorua

Kuirau Park

The Rotorua Museum of Art and History

Fiji Islands

One of the world’s most desirable destinations is the Fiji Islands. While on the Pacific Holidays tour you’ll have a front row seat to more than 330 islands. Explore the largest island city of Suva, which is the capital city of Fiji. Additionally, the white sands and crystalline waters of Fiji have created a postcard worthy setting that is perfect for a holiday vacation. Top spots to check out in Fiji include: